Troy, N.Y. – Senior co-captain Jayme Dorr (Osterville, Mass.) went 3-for-4, including a two-run single to key a three-run sixth inning and lead the No. 3-seeded Trinity College Bantams to an 8-7 win over the top-seeded Cortland State Red Dragons in the final winner’s bracket game of the NCAA Division III New York Regional Championship Tournament at Joseph Bruno Stadium this evening.
Trinity, ranked No. 2 in New England and No. 15 in the nation, improves to 26-9 with its sixth straight win and will play the team that emerges from two loser’s bracket games later today in the tournament finals tomorrow at noon. Cortland State, Mount St. Mary, or Messiah will have to defeat the Bantams twice tomorrow to win the Regional Championship. The regional champion advances to the NCAA Division III National Championship Tournament next weekend in Wisconsin.
Trinity scored runs in five consecutive innings, beginning with a solo home roff the bat of sophomore Jeff Natale (Hamden, Conn.) that cut the Red Dragon lead to two runs in the bottom of the third frame. Cortland junior Pat D’Auria (Nyack, N.Y.) answered with a dinger of his own to left field, but Bantam senior co-captain Kurt Piantek (Wallingford, Conn.) knocked out his 17th home run of the season and third of the Regionals, in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 4-2.
The Bantams tied the game in the fifth when Natale and Dorr singled and Piantek was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Senior Rob Dolliver (Norwich, Conn.) came through with a single to right field that scored two runs. Trinity scored three more runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-4 lead. Sophomore Aaron Goldstein (Edina, Minn.) led off with a single, stole second base and scored on a double by classmate Robert O’Leary (Easton, Mass.). A single by sophomore Matt Engster (Glastonbury, Conn.) advanced O’Leary to third base and a hit batsman loaded the bases. A single by Dorr scored two runs and Trinity led, 7-4.
Cortland State pulled to within two runs in the seventh inning but the Bantams got the run right back on a sacrifice fly by O’Leary. The Red Dragons climbed to within one run with a pair in the eighth, when senior Cory Haggarty (Ilion, N.Y.) and classmate Jeff Flegler (Gloucester, N.J.) both singled and advanced one base each on a balk. A single by senior Ben Albright (Poughleepsie, N.Y.) brought home Haggarty and Flegler scored on a double steal.
The Red Dragons left a man on third base in the ninth inning as Trinity senior closer Craig Tredenick (Cornwall, Prince Edward Island) got Cortland junior Josh Horner (Groton, N.Y.) to fly out to left field. Tredenick picked up his sixth save of the season (new College record) and second of the tournament in relied of freshman righty Kyle Cox (Hinsdale, Ill.) who allowed eight hits and five earned runs over 7-plus innings to earn the win.
| Teams | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Cortland St. (33-10) | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 1 |
| Trinity, Conn. (26-9) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | X | 8 | 12 | 3 |
BATTERY
CS- Toby Youngs, Ryan Ensel (6), Craig Robinson (8) and Matt Ellis.
TC- Kyle Cox, Craig Tredenick (8) and Andrew Fries.
WP: Cox (2-1)
LP: Youngs (4-2)
HR: CS- Pat D’Auria (7), Nate Gagnon (2), TC- Kurt Piantek (17), Jeff
Natale (8)
Offensive Highlights
CS – Jeff Flegler – three hits, two RBI
TC- Jeff Natale – three hits, two runs, home run, Jayme Dorr – three
hits, two RBI, Rob Dolliver – two hits, two RBI, double.